Tory government to review policy over 'dysfunctional rural broadband'

The UK government could be set to improve rural broadband, after comments made by the prime minister, Theresa May, in her closing speech.

The prime minister indicated that the government would intervene on “dysfunctional markets” and specifically singled out poor broadband in the countryside. The comments drew the largest cheer from the crowds as many rural businesses and homes have felt rural broadband has been dysfunctional for some time.

The speech came at a time when the UK government is looking to overhaul the broadband connections policy. For example, the government is looking into ways of delivering significant broadband upgrades by potentially offering taxpayer subsidies. Treasury officials, according to a report made by the Telegraph, are in the early stages of exploring the possibility of whether public money could be used to stimulate investment in Britain’s infrastructure.

During the speech, Theresa May said: “Where markets are dysfunctional, we should be prepared to intervene," she said, before adding: "Where companies are exploiting the failures of the market in which they operate, where consumer choice is inhibited by deliberately complex pricing structures, we must set the market right. It’s just not right, for example, that half the people living in rural areas and so many small businesses can’t get a decent broadband connection."

The demand for better broadband in rural areas has been increasing over recent months. Back in October, the previous prime minister, David Cameron, pledged to create a new Universal Service Obligation (USO) that would bring a minimum of 10Mbps download speeds across the country by 2020.

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(Image: Adrian Pingstone)